Set "mobile office" Beeline: striped piano in the bushes

In all the internet forums on mobile topics are actively discussed large and small tweaks to connect your computer to the network via a mobile phone. If you connect a laptop Special PCMCI-card is more convenient, but most users, this option does not even consider due to high cost of such cards. However, the growing popularity of Wi-Fi and rapidly proliferating wireless access point (including free), plus quite comfortable EDGE-Internet make you think. An interesting novelty - a decision "mobile office" Beeline.

Not just another card in the wrapper

The news of the complete "mobile office" look here. A quote from the press release:

"Mobile Office" - is a comprehensive solution consisting of a new tariff plan «GPRS Internet" and a special device to access the Internet from a laptop - PCMCIA-card Sony Ericsson GS89 with support for GPRS, EDGE, CSD and Wi-Fi. Feature of the new product is as easy access to the Internet from a laptop: the included "Mobile office» PCMCIA-card initially contains the necessary network settings and to configure the laptop issued to the software on two CD-ROMs. With the "mobile office" the subscriber is able to connect to the Internet, send and receive email, access corporate networks via GPRS and EDGE in 75 Russian regions and 89 countries around the world, as well as more than 7,000 hotspots, Wi-Fi for abroad.

Your Sony Ericsson is actually called the GC89, but we will not quarrel over trifles. The Russian company's website information about this product is not, however, characteristics of the card can be viewed on the international site Sony Ericsson. Design firm Bilaynovskoy packaging can be considered perfect, design every detail is thoroughly thought through. However, the clothes just met, and we are with you much more interesting parameters of his own product. PCMCI-map - quite versatile product that works in all ranges of GSM (850/900/1800/1900) and supports the standard 802.11 b / g WLAN. Supports GPRS class 10, EDGE and CSD (dialup connection). Support HSCSD (dial-up connection with the simultaneous use of several time slots) are not revealed, but the technology is today where the little used because of its inefficiency in the use of network resources. Of the additional capabilities - sending and receiving SMS, which is very convenient.

Voice GSM-connection through the card is impossible, however, when an incoming call screen pops up a notification about the call, even with the name of caller (if the name and number is in the SIM-adresbuke). Finally, it is very important for us, plus: the control program allows you to disable automatic and choose GSM-range manually. It is very important for Moscow, because in some cases allows you to "catch" for EDGE on the distant BS.Some additional information can be gleaned from the Russian-language instruction to the map (pdf-file is about 2 MB on the site Beeline).

Despite its flashy black-and-yellow design, the card is successfully operating with other operators, manager of Wireless Manager allows you to create any number of compounds. Also map does not specifically tied to their own paid Wi-Fi-Beeline network and readily clings to any access point detection. The included software to customize not only at the level of adding the logo, the necessary settings for the network Beeline already preinstalled. Of the disadvantages can be noted the impossibility of not only hot, but even a "hot-swap SIM-card: disable PCMCI-map for its extraction does not work properly and to replace the SIM-cards have to restart your computer. Although in Windows XP have not tried it, maybe in the OS, the "warm" replacement works.

Sale complete tariff plan "GPRS Internet" nothing remarkable in itself does not represent, except for disabled voice services via GSM. When I try to call on this number will hear "The service subscriber is not ordered," with him - the usual trehtonalka. Rate Options, please visit Beeline, though nothing special to watch: the standard 19 cents per MB of internet-GPRS, $ 1 monthly fee "for air" and 5 cents for an SMS-message. Rate loan, the guarantee fee - $ 10. Site Beeline announced $ 3 monthly fee and unlimited Wap-GPRS, but with 15 of fee is reduced to $ 1, and Wap-billed traffic starts. And once again, "pleased" the new fashion did not specify a phone number on the letter from the SIM-card (only the sticker on the box): If the normal Simka can even call it here to determine their own rates will have to send SMS.

Wi-Fi-access in their own Wi-Fi-Beeline network is not cheap (22 cents per minute), but operates an extensive internal network (the same 22 cents) and overseas roaming, can be very useful in the trip. Prices for international Wi-Fi-roaming in Beeline look here, if two words - 26 cents per minute, the minimum duration of paid sessions - 5 minutes. Ie for each access to the Internet in a mode of international roaming Beeline will have to pay at least a half dollar. Expensive, but comparable with guest Wi-Fi-rates abroad. Captivates the convenience: no need to run around looking for a place of payment, set up the connection, etc., to the same proprietary software Beeline "We Roam" allows even before the trip to assess the location and number of hotspots in the right city.

Complicated issue price

The press release stated price maps "about $ 250 excluding VAT, at the operator's website stated $ 299, including VAT. In reality, the price had little to reduce the level of $ 277 with tax. Participants of the program High-Light Club assumed a 10% discount, ie, price of the issue in this case - $ 252 with tax. Some subscribers with the experience and are unaware of their participation in this program, so inquire about the discount in any case can not hurt. At the same time and ask the possibility of obtaining a 10% discount on local service, this option is also provided. Guarantee fee when you connect the tariff "GPRS Internet is $ 10 excluding VAT, but when you add this contract to an existing personal account, this fee can not pay.

With regard to the cost of cards, for our market, it can be considered more than humane.Fairly thorough search of the Internet enabled us to discover just a dozen proposals range in price from $ 390 to $ 450. But talk about full-fledged Russian market of such devices is not necessary, as compared to demand for phones PCMCI-card void. Accordingly, the prices can be unduly inflated. Another important factor - on the market a more modern model GC99, GC89 very different from supporting data transmission in third generation networks (UMTS). The other parameters, these cards are identical and in the Russian telecommunications networks, this additional functionality is unlikely to soon come in handy. However, the fact to market the new model helps to reduce the prices of the previous ones.